In termes of quality & sound, like an Apollo or Steinberg UR system...A buddy of mine has a UR44 and the Roland sounds better in my opinion.The only one audio workstation left on the market is the tascam dsp,when my Roland VS will pass away it will be not my first choice.

In terms of A/D convertors and preamps, I've found the VS pretty good and serviceable. You can certainly find better ones, depending on your budget. The VS is a stand-alone unit that packs up a lot of features in one box, so compromise is to be expected. I find that it does everything that ProTools do, albeit a little more slowly, but I can live with that

Can you find better convertors and preamps? Sure, if you truly need them. Many of us use outboard processors, to supplement the VS--again, depending on the budget. Are the outboards better? Sure thing--or else people wouldn't buy them.

At the price point of US$500 (currently) the VS2480 is a good way to make a professional recording. It costs less than a powerful computer with all the programs and interfaces.

If you buy a great microphone like a Rode K2 ($500) and record at 24 bit 48Khz or higher you will be able to make a recording that is phenomenal. If you get and less pleasing but great mic like a Rode NT1A and a nice preamp you will also be able to make a professional sounding recording.

If you record with MTP you will have a color on your recording. Some like it, some don't. I don't care for it which means I get less tracks from the VS2480. However I have two VS2480s.

If you are making demos for people or yourself you can use other formats in the VS2480 and it will sound good enough. If you are making hip-hop then it will certainly be good enough.

Cons: 1)It is not quick and easy to get the music from the VS into a computer.2) It does not have reverse or play backward ability.3) The plugins on a laptop have become tremendous. So you can get Eventide level effects for cheap nowadays on a computer.

At the price point of US$500 (currently) the VS2480 is a good way to make a professional recording. It costs less than a powerful computer with all the programs and interfaces.

If you buy a great microphone like a Rode K2 ($500) and record at 24 bit 48Khz or higher you will be able to make a recording that is phenomenal. If you get and less pleasing but great mic like a Rode NT1A and a nice preamp you will also be able to make a professional sounding recording.

If you record with MTP you will have a color on your recording. Some like it, some don't. I don't care for it which means I get less tracks from the VS2480. However I have two VS2480s.

If you are making demos for people or yourself you can use other formats in the VS2480 and it will sound good enough. If you are making hip-hop then it will certainly be good enough.

Cons: 1)It is not quick and easy to get the music from the VS into a computer.2) It does not have reverse or play backward ability.3) The plugins on a laptop have become tremendous. So you can get Eventide level effects for cheap nowadays on a computer.

Cheers,Ian

Quote:

2) It does not have reverse or play backward ability.

_________________________
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats .. ~●¿●~ Where is B flat ?

Meanwhile I use a isa one digital with the VS2480 and have two VS8f-3 cards and a LA1176 plugin and since some days the TC m3000.This solution offers me the sound that I want.Maybe I will buy the T-Racks plugin if there will be a chance to get one.All in all I paid maybe 2000€ for these used things ( incl. VE7000, RBus cable,and even a VS2400, too).